Yeezy Gap is drip-feeding its collection and Rei Kawakubo is feeling good for the summer
It may not have come home this week but Phoebe Philo did – back into the arms of fashion’s long-deprived embrace – surely striking fear into many of today’s designers who work in her image, and adulation into her gallery hopping, Joan Didion reading, boxy blazer loving fans. The news, which was announced on Monday (July 12), came like a thunderclap, with flurries of fashion pundits desperately speculating on what Phoebe Philo™ could look like. After all, it wasn’t always cashmere turtlenecks and Stan Smiths – when Philo first joined the ranks at Chloé, she was better known for her diamante nails and gold tooth.
In other surprise appointments, Olivia Rodrigo became President, swearing her allegiance to vintage Chanel ten years her senior, Naomi Campbell was revealed as the new face (and body) of Burberry, and Kate Moss was announced as Kim Kardashian’s latest SKIMS girl. But it was Rihanna who trumped the casting call – doing so with LA model Lyric Mariah. Elsewhere, Gucci tumbled further into the metaverse with a 100 Thieves collaboration, while Saint Laurent staged a futuristic, bohemian show inside a living, breathing artwork.
Check out the gallery below for the rest of the fashion news you missed this week.
Yeezy Gap’s second piece is now on pre-order
Sitting front row at Balenciaga’s couture debut last week, was Kanye West, face completely concealed by a balaclava but made recognisable by the Yeezy Gap jacket he was sporting. The black Round Jacket is the second item to appear from the rapper-designer’s much anticipated collection and is now available to pre-order online.
Sports Banger’s coming to a town near you
The tongue-in-cheek, brazen bootlegging of Sports Banger, with all its political statements and acerbic takedowns, is being taken to the streets. The brand, which rose to fame for its NHS Nike swoop t-shirts, is currently occupying billboards up and down the country, blowing up a generation’s political frustrations in bold, black and white lettering. To accompany the guerilla-style takeover, Sports Banger are also having a flash sale, today at 6pm. See here.
Alexander McQueen has been vandalising capital cities
Taking a spray can to buildings, buses, and taxis, Alexander McQueen has been tearing up European fashion capitals in celebration of McQueen Graffiti, the graphic which featured in the label’s SS21 and Pre-AW21 collections. The print is tagged across t-shirts, jewel-encrusted satchels, and hybrid double-breasted jackets. See here for more.
… and so has Givenchy, actually
Having teased a collaboration with the Mexico-based artist Chito during its angsty resort show the other week, Givenchy is now previewing select pieces online. The label’s Antigona bag, Marshmallow slides, and 4G crossbody have all been given the Chito treatment. Likewise, the artist’s aerographic, haphazard, graffiti style has been sprayed over zip-up silk shirts, sweaters, hoodies, and bermudas. This launches today (July 16).
Wales Bonner is channelling mystic bliss
Wales Bonner has collaborated with musician, mystic, and laughter meditation practitioner, Laraaji. The small t-shirt capsule is an ode to the “luminosity, bliss and healing” of Laraaji’s Vision Songs, which is emblazoned across woozy-gradiented hand dyed items. Shot by Bharat Sikka in India, there are only 110 pieces made for the collection, landing July 26 online.
Kerby-Jean Raymond premieres a short film with Reebok
Having just made history as the first Black designer to show on the couture schedule, Kerby Jean-Raymond is debuting a short film, made with Reebok (where he is creative director). Dubbed CrateMaster, Jean-Raymond returns to his hometown of Brooklyn, following the neighbourhood’s young people as they prepare for a basketball tournament. The film was pre-screened on Tuesday evening at Brownsville’s Hilltop Playground for an exclusive audience of local residents. To further support the local community, Reebok are donating needed supplies to the Hilltop Playground and recreation centre. Watch CrateMaster here.
GUESS gets gnarly!
GUESS has been plundering its archives recently – pulling out vintage graphics from its 1989 Worldwide collection – all in celebration of Skateboarding making its way into the Olympic Games. The 2021 Originals Summer Games collection was shot by skate photographer Atiba Jefferson and features world famous skaters, among them Alex Midler, Boo Johnson, and Zach Saraceno. Check out the collection here.
Rei Kawakubo is smelling the roses
Rei Kawakubo presented florals for Summer at Comme des Garçons Homme Plus, which, as it turns out, was actually quite groundbreaking. Her spliced and diced tailoring has long provided a heady, conceptual alternative to traditional menswear, though this season, that became all the more extreme. Think abstract skirt-shorts and dress-coats, not to mention the papier-mache head pieces made by Dazed editor-in-chief IB Kamara. Unlike Kawakubo’s last women’s show – a gloomy, Dickensian nightmare – this felt relentlessly playful and unwaveringly positive.